The Northern Sun Conference has released the annual NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball tea, headed into their first season under the direction of Ashton Sangster, was picked to finish 14th out of the 15 teams.
Augustana, who advanced to the College World Series last season was selected to finish first with 14 of the possible 15 first place votes. Concordia-St. Paul was tabbed to finish second, while Minnesota State was picked to finish third. Minnesota Duluth and Winona State round out the top-five.
Concordia-St. Paul’s Alexis Monty was chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year, while graduate student Grace Glanzer of Augustana was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Whitnee Curry (Sr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) was slated as the player to watch for the Golden Eagles. Curry is expected to be in the middle of the lineup after hitting a team-high .340 last season, while driving in 17 runs. Curry started in all but three games last season.
Alexa Guilford (Jr., LHP, Crystal City, Manitoba) was selected as the pitcher to watch for the Golden Eagles. The now junior was fantastic as a sophomore, leading the Golden Eagles in ERA, WHIP, appearances, saves and opponent batting average.
The Golden Eagles look to Curry, Guilford, Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa), Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba) and Sophie Juntunen (Jr., 1B, St. Michael), Evie Stuck (Sr., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.), Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.), Riley Blake (Fr., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) and Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P, Stevens Point, Wis.).
UMC opens the season in one week, as they head down to Branson, Missouri, for six non-conference games, starting with a pair of games against East Central and Northwestern Oklahoma State.
